Discover: Tanner’s Playlist, Jan.16-23

I mostly use my Spotify for reviewing albums for ACRN. Since I didn’t do any of that over the holidays my account had fallen into a winter drought. I was scared the lack of activity would result in a dull Discover Weekly, but Spotify managed to throw something together somehow. There were chill jams and new gems to uncover; here’s the highlights.

Bedhead has been disband since 1998, but they’re still worthwhile and still great. This track is on the longer side, clocking in at around six minutes. The vocals are gentle and the guitar lulling. It is also definitely one of the aforementioned chill jams. Put this tune on as you brew your morning tea and watch the sun rise, taking the title to heart.

302 – The Lippies
Self-described as ‘feminist pop-punk’, The Lippies cover their bases in “302”. The track begins as a classic youthful tale about making dates and not carrying about the future. Then the bridge elaborates more with lyrics for keen social commentary. “The personal is political when you learn your friend is a rapist / The personal is political when you realize that nothing is more important than solidarity”, ring the key lines. I highly recommend this number.

Puka Shell Necklace – Walter TV, feat. Mac Demarco
Walter TV is small, especially next to Mac Demarco, so in my opinion that makes this colab extra cool. The song’s bouncy, care free, and breezy. It’s very much in the vain of Demarco, but muddier. “Puka Shell” can take the listener away; this one goes down best reclined with your eyes closed and shoes off. Enjoy it and pretend you’re lying in a field in the summer.

This is the opening track of You Are Beneath Me. It’s a punk jam, but also entirely spoken word on how “to best understand the material” of the album. While it’s not exactly playlist material, it does gear you for the album and is also full of intensely digestible situations. Relatable and/or sympathetic, the content in this minute and half blitz is rife with emotional fuel and stories to tell. “Understand that people have a right to be tasteless” is a favorite of the quips that this track is loaded with.

Apistat Commander – Xiu Xiu
Last year lots of my friends were very into Plays the Music of Twin Peaks. This track is honestly my introduction to Xiu Xiu, and I have to say what a banger! “Apistat Commander” is hands down my favorite track from this week’s Discover. It’s very controlled, starting with a singular beat and hushed vocals, then building gradually into something sonically overwhelming and frantic. If nothing else, it’s cathartic. I’ll defiantly be checking out Xiu Xiu’s next release this February.

Club Soda – Hala
Another chill jam. Hala takes it easy here. This tune is gentle and romantic, sure to calm you down and make you think of a lover you may have never even had. “You’re not my club soda, you’re my fancy wine,” lulls the vocal hook. It’s very casual, very easy going.

The airy vocals here are done well. The song feels very comfortable in itself. Focused, and never reaching too far. Slumbers strums out a pretty tune between the guitar and bass. Another chill jam to end things on, with calmly introspective lyrics that don’t get ahead of themselves. A tidy, peaceful track.